Batting

ST.LOUIS — The SVSU Baseball team took down the Saints in the double header matchup Saturday (March. 3) afternoon. The Cardinals came out hot against Maryville in game one of the double header, taking the victory 8-5. Saginaw Valley followed with another win, 5-2, in game three.

The Cardinals won the series 3-0 and will head to tomorrow's game looking for a clean sweep over the Maryville Saints.

Game One: Saginaw Valley - 8, Maryville - 5

MU took an early 4-1 lead in the game, but the Cardinals responded by posting four runs in the top of the third, with Quincy Jones homer to right field on an RBI triple, taking the lead, 5-4.

The game would remain scoreless until the sixth inning, where Todd Paperd singled to center field, RBI, where Cole Brooks scored to go up 6-4. Derrek Clyde also notched an RBI off his single to left field, bringing Paperd across the plate to lead the Saints 7-4.

Maryville added their final run in the bottom of the sixth, trailing 7-5 to the Cardinals.

The Cardinals got their final run in the top of the 7th when Jones reached on a fielder's choice, RBI, with Craig Wilson scoring to bring the final score 8-5.

SVSU had eight total stolen bases, with Clyde leading the pack with three. He also had three hits, a double and RBI.

Jones also had a homer and four RBI. Adam Fitzgibbon and Paperd had the other two RBI.

Amani Godfrey (1-0) took his first win of the 2018 season, working 6.0 innings. He allowed five runs and struck-out nine with seven walks. Grant Jebbia got his third save, pitching one inning and striking out two.

Game Two: Saginaw Valley - 5, Maryville 2.

To open up game two, Jones singled to left field, sending Fitzgibbon home to make the score 1-0 over the Saints. Todd Paperd then singled to right field, leading Swiss to score and push the lead to 2-0.

After scoring two in the first inning, SVSU and MU remained scoreless until the fifth where Craig Wilson scored on a passed ball, unearned.

In the sixth, Winters singled to left field, sending Brooks home to push the lead to 4-0.

Maryville responded in the bottom of the sixth with two runs, but it was not enough to push them to a victory. Saginaw Valley's final run of the day came in the top of the seventh where a SAC fly ball from Brooks sent Fitzgibbon home to end the day with a 5-2 win over the Saints.

SVSU had Wilson with a triple and an RBI, while Brooks had a double, sac fly and an RBI. Paperd and Winters had the other two RBI.

Wilson, Swiss and Winters, had one stolen base each, as well.

Mason Schellenbach (2-0) took his second win of the season, working 6.0 innings, allowing four hits, striking out four and walking only a solo batter.

Swiss got his first save of the season, pitching one inning, allowing no hits and one strikeout.

From head coach Chris Ebright

"Today's games really showed what our team is capable of when we compete offensively and defensively. We had great outings from Schwellenbach and Godfrey and almost everyone contributed in our lineup. We still have some work to do but I'm excited where we are at the moment."

From pitching coach Clayton VanderLaan

"What I'm most impressed by is the ability that our staff is showing in tough situations. There have been opportunities that they could have hit the panic button and let an inning or an at bat get away from them, but every time they have bulldogged their way through it. It shows a lot of maturity and confidence."

Up Next...

Saginaw Valley will finish the four game series against the Saints tomorrow at 1 p.m. SVSU is currently leading the series, 3-0, over Maryville.